Sunday, 31 May 2015

SIX WAYS TO HAPPINESS.

This past year has taught me a lot about
myself and has made me grow massively as a person. Things have been far from
easy, but one thing for sure is that I have really learnt to appreciate the
things that matter most in life. Simple pleasures rather than the bigger, more
materialistic things that deep down we all want to get our hands on…but do they
actually make you truly happy? When I first moved to London, I couldn’t wait to
get involved in everything the city had to offer, to eat out in all the fancy restaurants,
go out partying every night and of course, being obsessed with fashion I wanted
to buy EVERYTHING the magical world of Oxford Street had to offer. The reality
was a little different, money has been ridiculously tight and I have had to
find happiness elsewhere.

When you are living on a shoestring,
settling in to a new environment, missing friends and family from home,
battling fatigue and putting up with the stresses of a job, it can be hard to
stay positive (there have been many tears along the way). So I have come up
with a list of a few things that have kept me feeling happy through my journey
over the last 12 months, take a read if you will, you never know maybe they
will inspire you to change the way you think too.1.Probably a little obvious, but
family and friends are everything. I have always been a family girl, but this
year especially I have truly valued the constant love and support from the
people that know me best. Picking up the phone and having a chat with a special
relative can turn a bad day in to a good’un or a cuddle with your boyfriend
whilst watching rubbish t.v…these are the moments that are special. I have
learnt a lot about people recently and feel like I know exactly who my true
friends are. Stop caring about what people think, especially if they clearly
don’t care about you…this was (and maybe still is) one of my biggest hang ups;
but knowing who you can rely on makes everything easier.

2. Eating Healthy and staying fit.
I have really taken pride in making sure to look after my body this year, a lot
of things that happen in day-to-day life are out of our direct control, but
looking after yourself is something that we can all easily be in charge of. I
have religiously been going to the gym, working out and eating a balanced
healthy diet for a long while now and I can honestly say I have never felt
better. Exercise gives me a chance to empty my mind of London stresses and to
just focus on myself, when you start to see the difference; not only physically
but mentally too…it becomes seriously addictive.

3. Find something you love doing
and do it as often as you can. This kind of ties in with the above, but since
moving to Watford I wanted to find a way of getting to know new people and I
happened to try out a Zumba class. I was instantly in love…I haven’t been this
obsessed with something since I had to stop dancing and since that first class,
it has been the highlight of my week, every week. Not only do I get to express
myself through movement once more, but also I have made some fantastic new
friends, who without Zumba our paths would never have crossed. Zumba is without
doubt my happy space and if you can find something similar, I promise you it
will only lead to positive vibes.

4. Laugh. Now I have always been a
bit of a smiler, but this year has definitely tested my strength and I am sure
if you were to ask my boyfriend he would tell you of all the stress and tears.
But I like to think I have still maintained my lighthearted nature, both in
work and in my spare time. Laughter really is the best medicine, not only does
it release endorphins that will naturally make you feel good, but there is
nothing better than sharing a moment of laughter with someone; being able to
laugh at myself is something I pride myself on. Life is too short to take
yourself seriously, embrace your own stupidity and not only will it make others
laugh but I guarantee you will feel good too.

5. Find happiness through other
peoples happiness. I know this sounds a bit cheesy, but not being able to get
that materialistic happiness boost from purchasing a new pair of shoes, has
made me appreciate ACTUAL happiness. I love nothing more than doing small
gestures of good will to brighten someone’s day, whether it be just wishing a
stranger a good day or buying your friend a bar of chocolate, making other
people smile is a super easy way to feel positive.

6. Leave your work at the front
door! Something that I am still learning, but it is definitely the most
important point of all. No matter how stressful your day has been or how long
your to-do list is (mine is honestly never ending), as soon as you leave the
office and get off the train FORGET ABOUT IT (until the next morning at least)
and focus on relaxing. Clearing your mind of work and having some time to just
be "you" is the easiest way to keep a positive mentality…easier said than done,
but work on it and everything will seem better.

So there you have it, 6 small pointers that
have kept me feeling happy and positive over the last year. Not everything
revolves around how much money you have, finding “a happy place” through your
day to day actions will show you how strong a person you really are. Have a
positive week everyone and remember to spread the love!